PulseNet Canada is the National Molecular Subtyping Network for Foodborne Disease Surveillance. Participants (provincial public health laboratories and federal agencies) perform standardized molecular subtyping of foodborne bacterial pathogens by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). PFGE patterns are submitted to dynamic databases at the National Microbiology Laboratory, which are available on-line to participants – allowing for rapid comparison of patterns. This virtual network enables the detection of geographically dispersed outbreaks of foodborne bacterial disease at an earlier stage compared to traditional laboratory surveillance, allowing for more timely interventions and reduced impact on public health.